Tips on how to stay warm and survive winter in Japan

As winter is approaching and the temperature is slowly dropping, GoEMON thought that this would be the perfect time to give you some tips on how to survive the dreaded winter here! Our guide will be divided into 2 parts: which are how to keep yourself warm and how to keep your room feeling cozy! 

A. How to keep your body warm

1. Stock up on Uniqlo Heattech products

When it comes to keeping your body warm in winter, nothing is better than thermal clothing, and when it comes to thermal clothing in Japan, you definitely cannot miss out on Uniqlo’s Heattech. The brand offers a variety of thermal products, from innerwear, sweaters, and coats, to socks, stockings, scarves, and many more. They are also available in different warmth levels and different thicknesses for you to choose from. Heattech clothes are thin but super warm, so you don’t have to worry about looking like a bear from layering multiple layers of thick clothing. 

Uniqlo often has big sales of Heattech products before and during each winter, so don’t forget to go to your nearest Uniqlo stores to get the best deals! 

2. Bring out a pair of winter boots

Though not a must, you should have a pair of winter boots. This is especially true if you are living in the Hokkaido region of Japan, where the winter is absolutely brutal and the snow can even accumulate to 70-80 centimeters. 

You can find these boots in many places, such as ABC Mart, shopping malls, and department stores. 

3. Warm up with Kairo or heat packs

Walking the streets of Japan during winter, you might notice people holding these small packets or having them in their pockets. These are heat packs, which are also known as Kairo (カイロ) in Japanese. During winter, Kairo is everywhere in Japan. You can find them in all sorts of places, from convenience stores, supermarkets, and drug stores, to even 100 yen stores. Everyone uses them during the winter, and rightfully so because they are just so warm and convenient!

These heat packs are available and different sizes and come in two main types: the ones with adhesive and the ones that don’t. For the non-adhesive ones, you can simply pop them in your coat pockets or hold them to warm up your hands. As for the adhesive ones, you should stick them over a layer of clothing over the lower back or lower abdomen region. Be careful to not stick them directly over your skin as this can cause burns due to the packs overheating. 

B. How to make your room warmer 

If you have lived in a Japanese house, you would know that they are not really built and designed to keep the cold from creeping into the point that there usually would not be that much of a difference between the temperate indoors and outdoors. In this section, we will teach you some tips on how to make your house feel a bit more cozy and warm! 

1. Turn on the air conditioner

One of the most basic and straightforward ways to warm up your house during winter is to use an air conditioner. Most rental properties in Japan already have air conditioners that double as heaters, which are pretty convenient. However, they may be costly if you turn on all the time. In that case, we recommend doing it how the Japanese people usually do: you turn it on at night and set a timer for it to automatically shut off during your sleep and then set it to come on again before you wake up in the morning to warm up the room before you have to leave the bed. 

2. Lay out your electric blanket 

Electric blankets are super common in Japan during the winter, as they are not only safe, and warm, but also would not rack up your electricity bill. You can lay them on your bed (or sofa), turn them on, and then cover them with a blanket to trap in all of the warmth. Many Japanese people would use electric blankets to keep them warm during their sleep at night when the air conditioner is off. 

3. Bring out the Kotatsu 

Kotatsu is a classic when it comes to winter in Japan that fans of the country are all familiar with. For those who do not know, a kotatsu is a low table with a heater built under it, covered with a thick layer of blanket to trap in the warmth. As for usage, you can slide under the blanket to warm up your body! Kotatsu are super famous in Japan as they consume little energy, which would not be too harsh on your monthly electricity bill. The downside is that it can only warm up the area below the blanket, so you will still feel cold the moment you leave it. 

Winter in Japan can be harsh, especially for those experiencing their first winter. However, with the right preparations, you can still stay warm and enjoy the beauty of this season! 

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